The votes are still being counted, but as of now it looks as if Democrats have a slight edge in the popular vote for House seats, 49 percent-48.2 percent, according to an analysis by the Washington Post. Still, as the Post's Aaron Blake notes, the 233-195 seat majority the GOP will likely end up with represents the GOP's "second-biggest House majority in 60 years and their third-biggest since the Great Depression."
After Republicans swept into power in state legislatures in 2010, the GOP gerrymandered key states, redrawing House district boundaries to favor Republicans. In Pennsylvania, Democratic candidates received half of the votes in House contests, but Republicans will claim about three-quarters of the congressional seats. The same is true in North Carolina. More than half the voters in that state voted for Democratic representation, yet Republicans will fill about 70 percent of the seats. Democrats drew more votes in Michigan than Republicans, but they'll take only 5 out of the state's 14 congressional seats.
Now That's What I Call Gerrymandering!
Freedom From Religion Foundation sues IRS for not enforcing electioneering restrictions on churches
Freedom From Religion Foundation sues IRS for not enforcing electioneering restrictions on churchesOn the heels of a presidential election in which hundreds of preachers publicly promised to flout Internal Revenue Service rules by endorsing candidates from the pulpit, the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation filed suit against the IRS for failing to enforce electioneering restrictions against churches and religious organizations.
How I Might Have Just Become the Newest Urban Legend
"Just try to relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy."Then one of the nurses calls me and says, "The doctor would like to know why you're rolling around on a table full of semen." And I say, "TELL HIM THAT'S NOT HOW I NORMALLY SPEND MY SATURDAYS."
DNA Lounge: Wherein we'd like "Entertainment" to be legal on Eleventh Street.
The new Western SOMA zoning plan would make it impossible for a new entertainment venue to ever open on Eleventh Street, and would make it easier for even more condos to be built in between the existing nightclubs. Should any club close, it could be replaced with housing, but no new clubs could ever open.
Supervisor Kim is considering supporting a revision of the plan that would make entertainment be a fully permitted use on Eleventh between Folsom and Harrison.
You know, the block where all of the clubs are.
Jim Meko seems to think it's 1998 again and is trying to do some rabble-rousing to stir up the "condos versus clubs" battle again:
Kim ponders radical realignment of 11th Street neighbor/nightclub zoningTo hear tell, business would be booming and we~d all be dancing in the streets if it were not for "the purple building" and "that lady on Norfolk alley who keeps complaining." Such is the state of denial the California Music and Culture Association (CMAC) lives in as they plot to foment another war between neighbors and nightclubs in South of Market.
"Radical realignment" my ass. He even throws "But think of your property values!!" in there, too.
Seriously, Jim? Still? After all this time?
Anyway, if you think that entertainment should be allowed on Eleventh Street, you should go to the meeting and make your voice heard, lest it die by forced attrition. I don't look forward to a future where we're the only club left on this block, surrounded by nothing but million dollar condos.
If entertainment had been a "permitted use" on Eleventh street two years ago, opening the Above DNA space would have cost me about $100,000 less.
I'm not even kidding.
